Preparations underway to conduct Assembly polls in Puducherry, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

CEC Gyanesh Kumar announces preparations for Puducherry Assembly polls, highlighting a clean electoral roll after SIR and measures to improve transparency in polling process.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said the poll body has begun preparations for the conduct of Assembly election in the Union Territory. “We have already visited Assam, and today we are in Puducherry. The Commission will be visiting Tamil Nadu on Thursday and thereafter Kerala and West Bengal. After the review of preparations, we will sit and decide on the appropriate days,” he said addressing the media.

The Commission, during a day’s visit to Puducherry, met representatives of all major political parties, the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and officials of the Puducherry Election Department to assess the preparations.

The CEC added that for the first time, mobile deposit counters will be set up at polling booths and colour photographs of candidates will be displayed on ballot units. To further enhance transparency, all 1099 polling stations in Puducherry will be equipped with webcasting facilities.

The Commission interacted with BJP, Congress, DMK, CPI(M), AIADMK, AAP and BSP to give them an opportunity to present their views, concerns and suggestions to ensure that the coming elections are held in a transparent and impartial manner. Most of the political parties appreciated the Commission for the peaceful and smooth conduct of SIR in Puducherry.

Expressing satisfaction over the smooth conduct of Special Intensive Revision in Puducherry, the CEC said there have been no objections or complaints about the roll even ten days after publication of the final Electoral Roll post-SIR. The Election Department has so far not received any complaints from public pertaining to deletions, he added.

“Even in our meetings with representatives of political parties, there have been no major complaints though they have given general suggestions, which the Commission has agreed to look into. The feedback is that Puducherry now has a clean electoral roll with no eligible voter being left out and no ineligible elector finding place in the roll. The deleted are either dead or their residence shifted to another place,” Mr Kumar said.